I felt more insecure than I've ever felt in my entire life, making my way down the street to Marshall's house. I tried to only spend five minutes on my hair before texting Marshall back, but I feel like I've only fucked it up even more. I simply pinned my bangs back and away from my face like it usually was, but I wish it was down so I could hide behind it. Maybe I should just turn around and hide under my bed for awhile.
It's too late for that now. When I texted Marshall back, he seemed completely chill about it. Not mad or anything. Luckily I shaved my legs this morning, too, so I could wear shorts. I felt too... I don't know. I have a bad feeling. Maybe it's just because I have an undying, passionate of a thousand suns, burning like every volcano, undeniable, inexplicable, love for the boy I was to meet up with.
Shit was I going to stay at his house? Fuuuuuck. Here come the inappropriate thoughts that will surely make the date- I mean day, completely awkward for me.
I seriously contemplated scampering away when I reached the top of the hill and I could see his house. Down the hill, turn left into the cul-de-sac, second house on the left.
I pulled one foot after the other up his porch steps and willed myself to push the doorbell. After a few seconds, I saw the curtains on the other side of the window rustle and Marshall's face peered at me. He smiled before disappearing. I heard the door unlock, and he pulled the door open for me.
"Come on," he said waving a hand for me to come in. I smiled at him. Ooh, it smells good in here, as always.
"Hey, I'm kind of thirsty, have any juice?" I asked as we started making our way towards the basement stairs.
"Yah thursteh!" Marshall joked before laughing. I shook my head.
"You're so immature. I'll get it myself," I said back, pushing his shoulder. He chuckled. "I'll be downstairs."
"'Kay." I've been to his house enough times I was comfortable walking around by myself. I expected his mom to be in here, like she always was, but that wasn't the case. She was missing from the kitchen, and it almost felt strange that the water wasn't running to wash dishes. I opened the fridge and pulled out a bottle of apple juice before heading back downstairs.
I heard Marshall's electric bass playing without the amplifier as I made my down the creaky steps. I honestly thought Marshall would've heard my loud stomping down his stairs, but he didn't even turn to look at me. He turned his head and I saw he had earbuds in, probably listening to the next song he wanted to learn, as he tuned his guitar.
This was my opportunity to scare him.
I set my apple juice down and tiptoed the distance to get to him. He strummed his bass with a sad tone. I froze as he started talking, thinking I've been caught in the act. Before I relaxed my muscles I realized he was actually singing.
At first I thought for sure he knew I was there, standing a foot behind him, but the emotion in his voice clearly told me otherwise.
I hate myself when I'm away from you
I swear I'm sorry
Please don't hate me too
And I don't know if my heart will make it through
I swear I'm sorry
Please don't hate me too
Don't fail now
Hold on to hope
Caus-
"Crap," Marshall mumbled as the rhythm was messed up.
Well I've never heard that song before. I squatted down and sat on the floor, wanting to listen to more of it. This was beautiful honestly. I've heard Marshall sing, but not like this. I could hear the passion in his voice. Maybe this was a song he'd actually written by himself. Marshall and I have a pretty similar taste in music, so it would be most likely that I would know what he's singing.
After I listened to him strum for awhile, no singing unfortunately, I flipped my hair over my shoulder and Marshall spun around quickly with wide eyes. "Fionna!" He shrieked, almost dropping his guitar. "How long have you been listening?" He took out his ear buds and looked at me nervously.
"I came down here when you started singing. It was really amazing, Marshall! Why haven't I heard you sing like that before?" I asked with a smile. He ran a hand through his dark hair and chuckled nervously. Without really responding he spun back around and put his headphones back in. "Thanks. I wrote it," He replied.
"Well I think it's amazing," I said, standing up. He made no reaction to indicate that he heard me. I retrieved the apple juice, pulled his Snuggie off of a chair and collapsed on the couch. I liked being over at his house. Everything smelled like him. Especially this Snuggie. He sprayed cologne on it once, and I can still smell it. I reached for the tv remote and was about to turn the tv on, when I heard Marshall play the beginning chords of the song again. He didn't sing, but it was relaxing to listen to him. I stared at him from the couch as he played the bass. This was my chance to tell him how I feel. I mentally rolled my eyes at myself, but I willed the words to leave my mouth anyway. In my smallest whisper, I looked at the back of his head and said, "I love you." I stared at him wistfully, knowing he'd never respond.
I took a sip of the apple juice and turned the tv on. As I switched the channel away from Time of Adventure, Marshall turned off the amp for his bass and put the guitar up. He joined me on the couch. I gave him a sleeve of the Snuggie, and he snuggled closer to me to put his arm in. So this was my bliss. Watching Walking Dead with the love of my life who will never love me. Ouch, Fionna. Don't hurt yourself too bad.
"Wait go back to Time of Adventure!" Marshall cried.
"No, I've already seen that episode!" I said back.
"I haven't! Give me it!" Marshall reached his hand out to snatch the remote from my hand, but I moved it out of his reach.
"No!" I cried back, laughing and trying to push him away.
"Fionna!" He growled. He wrapped his arms around me and he was incredibly close, his cologne was strongest by his neck. Nonetheless I kept my fight up. I tried to wiggle away from him, keeping the remote as far away from him as possible. I switched the remote into my other hand so that it was under the Snuggie.
"No! We're watching Walking Dead!" I screamed, giggling. Marshall got off of me and flung the other sleeve over my face. I peeked over at him, not helping but smile, and watched him tear the Snuggie right off of me. I screamed when the cold basement air made contact with my skin.
"I'm cold!" I cried trying to take the Snuggie back.
"Trade?" Marshall asked, outstretching an empty hand. I made a face that would make it look like I was thinking before turning to lay down on the couch.
"Nah," I smiled, watching the tv. Marshall sat right in front of me, blocking the tv.
"Pwease?" Marshall asked, giving me puppy eyes. I poked his nose, "No."
Marshall pouted and narrowed his eyes at me. "I want to watch Time of Adventure..." Marshall said in a small voice, clawing at the air in front of the remote sadly. I smiled.
"You'll have to get the remote if you want to change it, Marshall," I teased. He gave me a serious look, but I still didn't give.
"You asked for this Fionna Humane," Marshall growled. He stood up menacingly and leaned over me. I looked up at him, a little stunned by his closeness, he smirked deviously. He squeezed my sides and I squealed. "Marshall!"
"I won't stop until you give me that remote!" He said, laughing at me. I pushed his hands off and jumped off the couch to get away from him. "Never!" I screamed. I heard him chuckle before he chased after me. Unfortunately, with my legs being much shorter than his, he caught up to me in no time and grabbed my wrist. He pulled me back to him and pushed me until my back was against the wall.
Even if his basement was made out of concrete and it was stabbing holes into my back, I wouldn't move or change our position for anything. Anything.
Our bodies were so close. In fact they were pressed up against each other. Marshall had my hands high up above my head. Our eyes were locked. Our breaths mingled in the small space between us. Marshall panting from chasing me, I was panting from the closeness of our bodies and the increased rate of my heartbeat.
I don't where the courage came from, or maybe it was just my stupidity, but within seconds my lips were pressed against his in a passionate kiss. I meant to pull back after realizing what the fuck I just did, but he stayed in place against my lips. He didn't allow me to separate myself from him, not that I was complaining, but I was running out of air.
Marshall kept my left hand, with the remote, pressed against the wall, but removed his grip from my right hand to hold my back away from the sharp wall. He finally let me breath as he kissed both of my cheeks and leaned his head against my right shoulder. He let go of my left hand and held me impossibly closer. I let my arms hang limply by my sides in shock. I let Marshall continue hugging me, I just loved his hugs, as I continued to try to catch my breath. After a few moments, Marshall turned his head towards me, still holding me close, and kissed me on the cheek, smiling. "I've been waiting," he said cheekily.
"Waiting?" I asked in utter confusion as he straightened himself. I wrapped my arms around his torso. "I thought you still liked Bonnibel still."
"I did... but that was only because I almost gave up on you... I was still crushin' on you years before her," Marshall smirked as he stared down at me.
"Are you serious? I could have been dating you this whole time! Get away from me!" I cried, a little frustrated. Marshall chuckled as I pushed against him to make my way back over to the couch. "Why didn't you just tell me?"
"I was really nervous," He replied simply, plopping down on the couch next to me before pulling my legs over his lap so I could face him.
"But you told Bonnibel."
"She was different. With you I felt like you already friendzoned me, so I just had to get to her before it was too late, too."
"Pssh, that's a dumb reason."
"Why are you comparing yourself to Bonni anyways?"
"I don't know..."
"Jealous?" Marshall smirked. I slapped on the shoulder, "No!" Yes.
"Can we watch Time of Adventure now?" Marshall asked, reaching for the remote still in my hand.
"Nope!" I laughed as I retaliated and pulled the remote far from his reach.
By Monday, Cake was completely filled in on the events that had happened on Friday. She was practically screaming in my ear when I invited her over to stay the night on Saturday.
Oddly enough, Marshall wasn't on the bus this morning. I was excited to see him again. I got off the bus and entered school my usual way, dreading every step because I was exhausted from staying up too late last night and finals tomorrow. Yippee.
I passed by Bonnibel's locker, surprised she even looked at me from her large friend group. I looked away quickly, avoiding eye contact.
"Hey Fi!" I heard Bonnibel call out to me. I almost cringed when she used my nickname. Only my friends called me 'Fi.' and she was most definitely not my friend. Not to me at least.
I looked up and smiled politely. "Yeah, come over here!" She said cheerily. Inside I couldn't have screamed louder. I made my way over to her, all of her bubblegum pink friends watched my every move and I felt completely out of place.
"Uhm... What's up?" I asked awkwardly, scratching my jaw out of a nervous habit. I felt my palms sweating as all their eyes were glued to me.
"You're dating Marshall?" She asked with an anticipating grin. I bit my lip and chuckled a little.
"I mean... I dunno. We kissed a f-" I began but was cut off by all their squeals.
"You're so lucky! He's so hot!" One of the girls swooned.
"OMG! Bekah! I thought you thought he was weird!"
"I only said that 'cause everyone else did!"
"Ew, don't talk about him like that around me!" Bonni scolded with a smile. "You guys should totally date! You guys would be cute."
"Uh... Thanks Bonnibel..." I said awkwardly. I probably looked like a fool.
"Oh please. You can call me Bonni! Like you used to remember?" Bonnibel - I mean, Bonni - said. She smiled pleasantly at me and I smiled nervously back.
"Um. Ya! Sure, Bonni... Well, Cake's waiting for me so..." I said, slowly backing away to make an exit.
"No way! Wait for me!" Bonni - que the cringe - turned back to her locker and gathered all of her advanced science and math textbooks and waddled her way over to my side, her posse following behind.
As soon as I turned the corner with Bonni by my side, Cake looked at me confused. I gave her an 'I don't know' look.
"Hey Cake!" Bonni said cheerfully.
"Cake? That's a weird name," one of Bonni's friends commented.
"Oh, my real name's Catherine, but I like Cake better," Cake replied with ease. Cake was so much better at talking than I was, even though she may talk a little too much at times. All of these confident bubblegum girls staring right at Cake and I, watching our every move, judging our every word and clothes, and Cake doesn't even break a sweat.
"So Fionna tell me more!" Bonni said.
"Gee, I don't know what else to say about it," I said, again scratching at my jaw.
"Tell me everything!"
"Everything?"
"Everything!"
I glanced at Cake, a little confused, but I decided there would be no harm done if I summed up Friday night to her.
By the end of my story, her entire group was squealing and jumping up and down. "You guys would be so cute!"
"Look I really have to get to class. The bell's gonna ring in like two minutes..." I said, dismissing myself. I pulled Cake by the elbow back towards my locker.
"Geez I thought my ear drums would explode," Cake commented, tapping at her ears.
"I know right. I didn't think there were girls like that that actually existed. I thought that was just in the movies."
"How much pink can one person wear anyways? There has to be a law about this..." Cake joked. I chuckled and shook my head.
"So where is Marshall today anyways?" Cake asked, looking up and down the halls. "Oh, there's Gumball!"
I shoved my stuff in my locker and pulled out a folder and my pencil pouch.
"Fionna where have you been? I was looking everywhere for you!" Gumball asked, relieved.
"Sorry Bonnibel wanted to talk to me..." I replied, shutting my locker. Cake said good-bye as we parted and I started walking to my first class with Gumball.\
"She wanted to talk to you for eighteen minutes?"
"Yeah, apparently. She wanted to know if I was dating Marshall."
"Are you?"
"Well no."
"Then why would she ask?"
"Well I guess he told her about Friday-"
"What happened Friday?" Gumball's tone became suddenly serious and he stared directly into my eyes.
"Well, we were hanging out and one thing led to another and we... kissed..." I bit my lip, thinking Gumball would start yelling at me because I knew they hated each other. I was surprised to see that he was completely calm... a little too calm.
"Oh."
"...yeah..."
"Well. That's..."
"...yeah..."
Gumball stared down at his feet in silence.
"Are you mad?" I asked as I opened the door to woodshop.
"Mad? Why would I be mad?" He asked. He looked sincerely confused as he looked into my eyes.
"I know how much you guys don't like each other so I guess I just kinda thought... y'know... you'd be mad or something."
"Well like you said, you aren't even dating. Plus it's not like it's my duty to watch who you date. You can take care of yourself. At least I hope you can." Gumball smiled and nudged me with his elbow as we sat down at our table.
I chuckled, though I could still feel the tension between us. Once class started, Gumball didn't talk to me when I tried joking around like usual. I smacked him on the butt, trying to get a reaction, but he just sneered and sat down away from me. I sighed, finally giving up.
The next few hours were just like my first class. Gumball didn't walk me to my locker, instead going around the corner to avoid me. I sighed again, turning the combination of my locker. "Hey, Fi..." Marshall greeted happily. I gave him a small smile, not in the mood to be joking around any more.
"What's wrong, girl?" Marshall asked, sliding against the wall of lockers to be right in my line of vision. I looked him in the eyes for a while with my lips pressed together. Furrowing my brow, I exhaled deeply. I leaned against my locker door, swinging around. Marshall came closer, sliding his hands onto my waist to pull me to him. "C'mon. Y'know I just want you to be happy..." He whispered as he kissed my jaw. I gently pulled away, but he grabbed my hand.
"Tell me, and I'll help you," Marshall said with a sweet smile. I sighed, swinging our hands.
"Gumball's upset, and he won't talk to me," I said quietly and avoiding eye contact. Marshall shifted, rubbing his elbow.
"Well he's a prick, so you don't even have to worry about him," Marshall replied emotionless. I puckered my lips indignantly and gave Marshall a displeased look.
"Yeah? That 'prick' is one of my best friends," I replied with passion. "I wish he would just talk to me..." I looked down again, reaching down to get the books I needed for my next class.
"Don't you sit by him at lunch?" Marshall asked unexpectedly. I raised an eyebrow as I straightened myself and shut my locker.
"Usually..." I replied, suspicious.
"Great, see yeah later!" Marshall said, about to leave. He stopped himself to turn to me again, "Oh, and if he doesn't sit by you during lunch, can I?"
"Well, I mean yeah, sure-"
"Thanks! Bye!" Marshall called as he quickly left in the direction of his locker. I rolled my eyes and continued to my next class.
Finally lunch came around. With Cake and Manny at my side, we made our way into the cafeteria. I put down my sack lunch and scanned the room for Gumball. I spotted him standing awkwardly in the lunch line.
"Cake! Save my spot!" I said, leaving quickly.
"Wait! Where are you-!" I heard Cake start, but she cut herself off.
I made my way towards him, not even looking at the indignant classmates who shouted at me for cutting in line. "Gumball!" I cried.
He looked at me in surprise. "Oh."
"What?"
Gumball looked down at his hands as he advanced in the line.
"Are you avoiding me?" I asked.
He looked up at me, uncertain about what to say.
"I don't want to be- no. Look... Fionna... if Marshall makes you happy-"
"So this is about Marshall!" I exclaimed. Gumball gave me a hard stare, silencing me.
"OK, so maybe it is, it's just... Marshall and I just should not be put together..."
"So you're not sitting with me?" I asked, sadness evident in my voice. Gumball looked behind me and widened his eyes.
"No!" He said flustered. I turned to look at what he was staring at but he took hold of my shoulders and kept me in place. "What was that-"
"I'm sitting by you Fionna, don't worry I am!" Gumball said, forcing a smile. "Uh, save a spot for me!"
"Uh...okaaHEY!" Gumball twisted me around and pushed me in the direction of my table.
Weirdo.
I marched back to my table and sat down next to Cake where my lunch was placed. "Gumball's acting weird," I said, pulling out a bag of gummy bears. I handed a few to Manny.
"What do you mean?" He asked as he put a green one in his mouth.
"He was looking at something behind me and he just screamed 'no' and he wouldn't let me see what he was yelling at," I explained.
"Maybe it was Marshall," Cake said, tearing open some Cheetoh's.
"What makes you think that?" I replied.
"Because Manny pointed out to me that Marshall was standing on one of the chairs. He was pointing at Gumball and doing this," Cake pounded her fist to her palm.
"What the hell?" I said confused.
"I know right." Cake said.
"I'll have to talk to him later..." I said, thinking to myself.
After school, Marshall approached me, pulling me close to him.
"Hey cutie," Marshall greeted, pulling a strand of hair behind my ear.
"Hey," I said, pulling away from him to get the rest of my homework in my bag.
"It's too bad I couldn't sit by you at lunch today. I saw Gumball sitting by you today," he said with a suspicious smile.
"Oh ya... Speaking of lunch, Cake told me she saw you doing this," I pounded my fist to the palm of my hand, "to Gumball behind my back. Wanna tell me what that was about?"
"Alright, alright, you caught me. I kinda... Ah, how can I say this gently?"
I slung the book bag over my shoulder and slammed my locker closed. "What. Did. You. Do?" I said angrily.
"Calm down, Fionna! I didn't hurt him, I promise! I just kinda... told him if he didn't sit by you I'd teach him a thing or two about my punches..." Marshall smiled guiltily.
"Oh, Marshall... Why?" I asked, turning so that he would follow me to the closest exit doors of the building.
"Well you told me how sad you were without him with you all the time so I made sure he would be around you all the time," he explained. "Even though, y'know, we kind of have a thing going on right now. He's still your friend."
"Uhm... I have no idea how to respond to that..." I said, chuckling.
"What? Is that a good or bad silence?" Marshall laughed.
"I think it's a good silence," I laughed. "So you threatened to hurt him if he didn't stay with me... That's pretty opposite from regular guys. Usually they'd punch anyone trying to get close to their girl."
"Oh, trust me, if he makes a move outside of friendship on you, he'll get a taste of Righty over here. But I just thought I've gotta keep you happy if I'm gonna keep you."
I smiled at Marshall happily. "Is it okay if we hold hands? I think I've earned it," Marshall asked with a nervous smile. I chuckled and grabbed his hands, intertwining our fingers together. "Yeah. I think so, too."